As part of a traditional Appalachian sect, the 22-year-old church leader illegally handled venomous snakes — and starred on the reality TV show Snake Salvation — until wildlife authorities seized them all. Risking his life and his livelihood, he’s taking a stand in the name of Jesus, and, he argues, in the name of religious freedom.

National Geographic rebuffed Will Oliver’s request to add a disclaimer about Boy Scouts’ ban on gay members to the start of its new show “Are You Tough Enough To Be A Scout?” Instead, they offered him space to write a blog post on the show’s website.